I have a friend who hates having pictures taken. She thinks she looks horrible in pictures yet there are countless cute ones of her. She’s always complaining about the circles under her eyes but I don’t see them. Instead, I see a beautiful woman who is harsh on herself and it makes me think about how women in general feel this way and how hard we are on ourselves.

We are hardest on ourselves but mercilessly so. What are we trying to achieve by badgering ourselves? Definitely not confidence or higher self esteem. And there’s nothing positive about wielding critical words at us. As women, we should be doing the exact opposite- patting ourselves on the back for just being alive. For getting through this world of adversity and challenges and not letting the world get to us- that in itself deserves applause. And as women, we should get even more kudos for we are the nurturers of the world, the ones who take care of others before we even consider ourselves. I hear all the time, while taking care of my mom in her nursing home, how “A son is a son until he gains a wife, a daughter is a daughter for life.” Being critical of ourselves and calling ourselves names should be removed from our psyche, permanently. We have no right to hurt ourselves this way. We are good people no matter what we’ve done in life. Life is hard enough without chastising ourselves.

Remember all the good things you do on a daily basis and celebrate you for you are a great woman! There is no one else like you. You are unique and beautiful just the way you are. Be kind to yourself, be good to you, if only for just one day. Pamper yourself and reward you for being so marvelous and you will find that in being kind to yourself it naturally passes on to others, one person at a time. It’s a chain reaction and it all starts with you.

It doesn’t have to be your birthday or even a holiday. Do something wonderful for yourself today – just because you are you- a truly special human being that deserves the best in life. Take care my friends.